Three-way clamping fixture



' April 22, 1952 A. v. M FERRON ET AL THREE-WAY CLAMPING IXTURE Filed Feb. 25, 1948 FIG-2 INVENTORS ALFRED V. MQFERRON 8. HAROLD 0. MYERS BY v %A, WMM

ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1i THREE-WAY CLAMPING FIXTURE Alfred V. McFerron, Rocky River, and Harold D. Myers, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignors to M McFerron-Myers Products Company, Rocky River, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 25, 1948, Serial No. 10,736

' 1 Claim. (01. 113-99) This invention relates to improvements in a so-called three-way clamping fixture for supporting two or more elongated parts while they are being joined together as for instance by welding; r

An object of the present invention is to provide simple but convenient means of novel and improved character for holding two or more bars, rods, tubes or other similar elongated articles for joining together at a common point, said means further comprising various frames and brackets which provide the desired support for the workpieces.

A further object of the invention is toprovide novel and improved clamping fixture means of the character indicated in the last preceding paragraph having at least two complementary parts which are identical with each other, so as to be perfectly interchangeable in multiple clamping set-ups.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a. three-way clamping fixture of the character described, comprising at least two clamping portions. adjustably movable with respect to each other, and having respectively adjacent portions provided with convenient indicia for indicating the relative positions of theirclamping faces, as will more clearly appear from the accompanying specification and drawings, and the essential features will be set forth in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a three-way clamping fixture embodying our invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken respectively on the lines 2-2 and 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view, similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modified form of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a view, considerably reduced in size as compared with the other drawings, showing a pair of clamping fixtures adapted for use with a spacer bar.

Figs. 1 to 3 show a generally U-shaped frame Hi the legs of which terminate in a pair of blocks having face portions Ha and 12a provided with work-supporting jaws Nb and I2!) respectively. A tongue or handle l3 extends rearwardly from the mid portion of the frame In so as to provide means foreither holding the clamping fixture manually, or gripping it in a vise, or otherwise. The tongue 13, the frame l0, and the clamping blocks II and I2 all lie generally in a common plane.

Jaws II and I2 have threaded perforations He,

l2c for the purpose of receiving attachingmea'ns for a C-clamp I 4 or similar attaching device, the fixed end of a C-clamp being shown in .1, and bein retained on block I 2 by removable attaching means I 5, in the present instance consisting of a threaded stud.

The movable jaw of the clamp is adapted to be moved against a work piece resting in th'e groove l2b ofblock l2.- V g 1 Y 17 Means is provided for positioning a third clamping block IS in position to cooperatewith blocks II and I2, and in the position: showniiri Fig. 1 the working face Ilia of block I8 is inthe plane of faces I la and l2a of blocks-H andlz Block 16 and a similar block I are supported by an arcuate frame portion l8, correspondinggemerally in structure and function to frame Ill pre; viously described, except that frame I8 is of such length that blocks l6 and I! are at right angles to each other. j

Block [1 is longitudinally slidable on tongue |3-of frame l0, and is' held in place in various adjusted positions relative to tongue l3 by a bolt I9 (Fig. 2) which passes through a slot 20in tongue l3, and seats in a threaded aperture, [1c in the block I 1. This is the same threaded aperture which is adapted to receivev the attaching stud for the fixed end of a C-clamp when the block happens to be in clamp-holding position. Slot 2|] may be a single long slot, or a succession of shorter slots.

Novel means is provided for strengthening the frame 10, and for guiding the block l1 (or block 16 if in the position now occupied by I! in Fig. 1) during sliding movement thereof. Upstanding ribs 23 extend around the outer edges of the frame I (I, and backwardly at 23a along the longitudinal edge faces of tongue l3. The rib portions 23a slidingl engage the vertical side faces of block I l to guide it during its adjustable movement. Other ribs 24 are provided around the inner edge of the U-shaped frame N) for strengthening purposes. These ribs may be cut away, as indicated at 24a so as to permit sliding movement of block I! in case the forward end of this member should extend into the recess of the U-shaped frame. Similar strengthening ribs may be provided along the arcuate edges of frame l8.

For convenience in duplicating previous adjustments, clamping fixtures l0 and I 8 can be provided with means for re-establishing any desired positional relationship between face l6a of block l6, and the co-planar faces I la and Ma. As shown in Fig. 1 this means consists of an indicia scale 25 fixed on the side of block I1, and a pointer 26 or other reference means fixed on rib 23a; As will be readily understood, the indicia scale and pointer may be arranged to directly read the linear divergence between the plane of face [6a and the common plane of faces Ha and l ia. In-the position shown in Fig. 1 the pointer would be at the zero position on the scale since the above mentioned planes coincide in the Fig. 1 position.

The ninety degree fixture I8 is also provided with a tongue 21 the structure and function of which are similar to those already described for fixture 10. Briefly, tongue 27 can be used for holding fixture [8 in the hand, or grasping it in a viseor otherwise, or even as a runway on which the base blocks of additional clamping structures, may be attached. A complex clamping unit may be built up in. this way, to hold a plurality of rods, tubes, or other articles for welding, or other operation.

In. the: assembly shown in Fig. 4, two ninety degree units 28 and 29 are shown mutually attached position to hold, for example, three rods (not shown) which meet at a common point constituting the corner of a hollow polyhedral figure such as a cube. It may be noted that clamping structures 28 and 29 are identicaland are therefore exactly interchangeable in any working position. This is a distinct advantage in a sho Where a plurality ofrelated operations are oing on, and aworkman can select one or more clamping parts from a common pile without wasting too much time in seeking one of specific shape. Fig; 5 shows a pair of clamping units 39 and 31 adjustably' fixed on the ends of a spacer bar 32 which can be of any suitable length depending on the requirements of the job.

.W'e have referred to the frame IE as being of U-shape. We do not desire to be limited specifi cally' tothe shape shown in the drawings, since the'frame, may have rectangular corners, or it mightbeof 'V-shape, but the term U-shape has been used for simplicity of description.

Itshould'be clearly understood that all of these fixtures have' blocks ll, [2, l6 and the blocks or units 28 and 290i the same width, and the spaces betweenribs 2-3a and similar ribs of the other units are all of corresponding width to slidingly receive any of these blocks. Therefore, any number of units of selected angular relationship (or of variable angular relationship as disclosed in Fig. 1 of our co-pending application, Serial No. 649,944, filed February 25, 1946, now abandoned) may be added together like building. blocks, and spacer bars 32 may be inserted at any points needed.

It will be noted that any one of the clamping frames shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 4 includes a pair of branching arms (I0 and I8 in Fig. 1 and 28 or 29in Fig. 4) having a rigid tongue ([3 or 21 in Fig. 1, and similar tongues in Fig. 4) extending away from the junction of the arms to form what may be designated'a Y-shape frame.

Whatwe claim is: j A clamping fixture comprising a Y-shape rigid frame, the frame havingv a pair of branching arms anda tongue extending away from the junction of said arms, a block at the free end of each of said arms and rigid therewith, each said block being constructed and arranged to support work clamped to aface thereof, each said block: having parallel sides on opposite sides of said face, parallel ribs on said tongue spaced apart a. distance substantially equal to the distance between said parallel sides, the tongue being. adapted to receive a block of a. second similarly constructed clamping fixture between said. ribs in slidable, locking relation thereto.

ALFRED V. MCFERRON. HAROLD D. MYERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are'of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date; D. 41,287 Colt Apr. 4, 1911 85,372 Elliott Dec. 29, 1863 292,391 Weiser Jan. 22,- 1834 463,587 Thomas Nov. 17,1891 555,624 Slotkin Mar. 3, 1896 1,506,673 Seablom Aug. 26,1924 2,293,902 Johns Aug. 25, 1942 2,300,673 Johns Nov; 3', 1942 

